[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39482-39484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19021]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-60; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1994 and 1995 BMW 730i Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1994 and 1995 BMW 730i passenger cars are eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition
[[Page 39483]]
for a decision that 1994 and 1995 BMW 730i passenger cars that were not
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards are eligible for importation into the United
States because (1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were
originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United
States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with
the safety standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered
to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is September 1,
1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Section, Room 5109, National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington,
DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 am to 4 pm.]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I)
of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (the Act)), a
motor vehicle that was not originally manufactured to conform to all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards shall be refused
admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided that the
motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor vehicle originally
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States,
certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115 (formerly section 114 of the Act), and
of the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be
compared, and is capable of being readily altered to conform to all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either
manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to
49 CFR part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice
in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords
interested persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the
close of the comment period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the
petition and any comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is
eligible for importation. The agency then publishes this decision in
the Federal Register.
G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'')
(Registered Imported 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1994 and 1995 BMW 730i passenger cars are eligible for importation into
the United States. The vehicles which G&K believes are substantially
similar are 1994 and 1995 BMW 740i passenger cars that were
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and
certified by their manufacturer, Bayerische Motoren-Werke, A.G., as
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared 1994 and 1995 BMW
730i passenger cars to 1994 and 1995 BMW 740i passenger cars, and found
the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance
with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that 1994 and 1995 BMW 730i passenger cars, as originally manufactured,
conform to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards in the same
manner as their 1994 and 1995 BMW 740i passenger cars, or are capable
of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that 1994 and 1995 BMW 730i
passenger cars are identical to 1994 and 1995 BMW 740i passenger cars
with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift
Lever Sequence * * *, 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106
Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood
Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201
Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 204
Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door
Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel
Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance,
219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of Interior
Materials.
Petitioner also contends that 1994 and 1995 BMW 730i passenger cars
are capable of being readily altered to meet the following standards,
in the manner indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a)( substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure
indicator lamp; (b) installation of the appropriate symbol on the seat
belt warning lamp; (c) recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from
kilometers to miles per hour.
Standard No. 109 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies and front
sidemakers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies which
incorporate rear sidemarkers; (c) installation of a high mounted stop
lamp.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning
buzzer microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and
a VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the
driver.
Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power
window system so that the window transport is inoperative when the
ignition is switched off.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat
belt warning buzzer. The petitioner states that in conformity with the
standard, some of the subject vehicles manufactured before September
1993 may be equipped with only driver's side air bags and knee
bolsters, but that all such vehicles manufactured after September 1993
are so equipped on both the driver's and the passenger's side. The
petitioner also states that the vehicles are equipped with Type 2 seat
belts in the front and rear outboard seating positions, and with a Type
1 seat belt in the rear center seating position.
Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: installation of
reinforcing beams.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the
evaporative emissions collection canister.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on 1994 and
1995 BMW 730i passenger cars must be reinforced to comply with the
Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC
20590. It is requested
[[Page 39484]]
but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
All comments received before the close of business on the closing
date indicated above will be considered, and will be available for
examination in the docket at the above address both before and after
that date. To the extent possible, comments filed after the closing
date will also be considered. Notice of final action on the petition
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority
indicated below.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8;
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on: July 27, 1995.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-19021 Filed 8-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
